Okay, friends, let’s talk cake. Specifically, let’s talk about this easy chocolate sponge cake recipe that I’ve been obsessed with lately. You know me, I’m all about making things approachable, taking the intimidation out of the kitchen, and proving that delicious doesn’t have to mean difficult. And honestly? This cake is the embodiment of that philosophy.
I remember being a kid, and my grandma used to make these incredible Victorian sponge cakes. They were always so light and airy, and she’d fill them with fresh raspberries and whipped cream. It was pure magic. But honestly, watching her make it felt…complicated. Like a secret art form only grandmas possessed! I always thought, “There’s no way I can pull that off.”
Fast forward to culinary school, and I realized a lot of that “complexity” was just technique. And a little bit of understanding why things work. That’s what I try to bring to “Easy Recipes List” – breaking down those barriers and showing you that you absolutely can create something amazing. This chocolate cake is a perfect example. It’s based on my original sponge cake, but with a gorgeous chocolate twist.
And let me tell you, the secret to this cake’s incredible lightness isn’t some fancy ingredient or complicated method. It’s actually…less flour! I know, it sounds counterintuitive, right? But trust me on this one. I’ve experimented with so many sponge cake recipes, and I found that a lot of them just use way too much flour, resulting in a cake that’s dense and heavy. Instead, I substitute a good portion of the flour with cornstarch. It thickens the batter without creating too much gluten, which is what gives you that unbelievably soft, airy texture. It really is a “better than bakery” kind of cake, and it’s all thanks to that little trick.
I was actually chatting with a friend the other day, Sarah, who was saying she’s always been too scared to attempt a sponge cake. She thought it was just too finicky. And that’s totally understandable! Sponge cakes can be tricky, but I’ve really tried to make this easy chocolate sponge cake recipe as foolproof as possible. I’ve included tons of detail in the instructions, and I’m always here to answer your questions if you get stuck. Don’t be afraid to reach out!
Speaking of details, I’ve also included notes on things like oven temperature (fan vs. no fan – important!), and how to properly cool the cakes to prevent them from collapsing. Seriously, those little things make all the difference. And don’t skip the simple syrup! It seems like an extra step, but it keeps the cake beautifully moist and prevents it from drying out. It’s a game-changer, I promise. This easy chocolate cake recipe deserves that little extra love.
And then, of course, there’s the filling and frosting. I’m a huge fan of my homemade raspberry jam filling paired with this chocolate sponge. The tartness of the raspberries cuts through the richness of the chocolate perfectly. But feel free to get creative! Use your favorite jam, or try a different flavored whipped cream. The possibilities are endless! I’ve also included a link to my raspberry filling recipe, just in case you’re feeling ambitious.
Easy Chocolate Sponge Cake Recipe
This easy chocolate sponge cake recipe is light, airy, and surprisingly simple to make! A chocolate twist on a classic sponge cake, it’s perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes + 1 hour cooling
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: British
Ingredients
2 tbsp (15 g) flour – regular, all purpose
⅓ cup (40 g) cornstarch
¼ tsp baking powder
2 tbsp (16 g) cocoa powder – unsweetened
1 tsp instant coffee powder
¼ tsp salt
4 large eggs – whites and yolks separated, room temperature
⅛ tsp white vinegar
⅔ cup (132 g) white granulated sugar – separated in half (1/3 for the egg whites & 1/3 for the egg yolk mixture)
1½ tbsp warm water – not boiling
2 tsp vanilla essence/extract
2 tbsp (30 g) unflavoured vegetable oil – I use canola
¼ cup (50 g) white granulated sugar
¼ cup (55 g) boiling water
2 cups (375 g) cold whipping cream
3 tbsp (28 g) icing sugar – also known as confectioners sugar/powdered sugar
3 tbsp (22 g) cocoa powder – unsweetened
½ tsp vanilla essence/extract
1 punnet fresh strawberries
1 batch of my raspberry jam filling recipe
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 160 °C (320°F) with the fan on (see note 2 if you don’t have a fan function) and line the bottom of two 8×3 inch baking tins with baking paper without greasing the bottom. Leave the sides of the cake tins ungreased and bare (do not line with baking paper).
- In a bowl combine your flour, cornstarch, baking powder, cocoa powder, instant coffee powder and salt. Mix until well combined. Set aside.
- In a medium sized bowl add in the egg whites and white vinegar, and using a hand or stand mixer, whip on a medium high speed for 30 seconds until foamy. Gradually add in 1/3 cup of the sugar and then continue mixing for a further 2 minutes. Then turn your mixer down to low and mix for a further minute. You should end up with stiff peaks. Set aside.
- In a large bowl add in your remaining 1/3 cup of white sugar and warm water. Mix so that the sugar is coated in the water. Add in the egg yolks and vanilla, and with a hand or stand mixer, whip on a medium high speed for 4 minutes, and then turn the mixer down to low and mix for a further minute. Your mixture should now be thick and you should be able to create ribbons with it when you lift it up with a spoon.
- Stream the vegetable oil into the egg yolk mixture while mixing on a medium speed. Mix until well combined.
- Add in half of your egg whites to your egg yolk mixture, and using a spatula gently fold together until just combined. Then sift in your dry ingredients, and gently fold through until just combined. Finish off by adding in the remaining egg whites and gently fold until just combined.
- Distribute the batter into your baking tins and then tap your baking tins lightly on your counter. Then run a thin knife or toothpick through the batter to remove any large air bubbles and then bake for 20 minutes.
- To test whether they’re done, gently touch the tops and it should create a little indent which slowly bounces back.
- Once the sponges are done, immediately tap them on the counter from a height of about 10cm, and lay them upside down (while still in their baking tins) on a wire rack to completely cool.
- Once cooled, run a thin knife around the edges to release the cakes from the cake tins, and then turn them out onto a wire rack.
- Combine the sugar and hot water together for the simple syrup and mix until the sugar is completely dissolved. Using a pastry brush, generously brush the top and sides of the sponges with the simple syrup.
- In a large bowl add in the whipped cream, icing sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla. Whip until you reach stiff peaks. Be careful not to overwhip the cream.
- Place one sponge cake layer down, and cover the top with a thin layer of my raspberry jam filling. Place strawberries on top. Cover with generous amount of whipped cream and spread it out evenly. Place your next sponge cake layer on top and then cover with more whipped cream. Finish decorating with more strawberries on top. Enjoy!
Notes
- Note 1. You cannot use cake flour in this recipe as a substitute for the all purpose flour and cornstarch.
- Note 2. If you don’t have a fan oven, bake at 175 °C (347°F).
- Note 3. If you haven’t reached stiff peaks yet then keep mixing.
- Note 4. By placing the sponges upside down to cool while still in the baking tins, this will prevent them from deflating.
- Note 5. Because sponges do not contain a lot of fat, they can dry out quicker than regular cakes. To keep my sponges nice and soft I brush them with simple syrup.
- Note 6. The reason why I first whip both the egg whites and yolks on a high speed, and then on low for the last minute is to remove any large air bubbles which can cause our cakes to collapse.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12 servings
- Calories: 303kcal
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 94mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0.02g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 0.2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 109mg
So, there you have it! My easy chocolate sponge cake recipe. I really hope you give it a try. And if you do, don’t forget to rate and comment below if you enjoyed it. Happy baking! ❤️
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